Bottle capper



May 23, 1944. R. SONNENBERG BOTTLE CAPPER Filed July 15, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z WW,

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2| 1 a r 61 M a 1 m 1 a. e a). e a H H|||. I- 4 7 I r M I 5 M v. 3 8 2 o x a I! 6 6 i 2 1 a mad N 6 a y 23, 1944- R. SONNENBERG 2,349,524

BOTTLE CAPPER Filed July 15, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 23, 1944. SQNNENBERG 2,349,524

BOTTLE CAPPER Filed July 15, 1941 'r Sheets-Sheet 4 y 1944- R. S ONNENBERG 7 2,349,524

' BOTTLE; CAPPER Filed July 15, 1941. 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented May 23, 1944 BOTTLE CAPPER Rudolph Sonnenberg, Belvidere, Ill., assignor to Mid-West Bottle Cap 00., Belvidere, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 15, 1941, Serial No. 402,518 16 Claims. (or. 226-85) This invention relates to capping machines of the type commonly employed for applying caps to milk bottles, and refers more particularly to a machine for assembling and seating a hood cap on a bottle. r r r r The present invention is directed primarily to a capping machin for applying composite paper and metal hood caps to milk bottles, and to the combination thereof with a filling machine,

though'it will be understood that many phases of the invention arenot limited to the application of metal hoods. Much difllculty has been experienced in the past in an effort to provide metal hood caps'f-or milk bottles which would meet the necessary trade requirements. The most important obstacle to a satisfactory solution of the problem has been thatof cost, both in the cost of the metal making up the cap, and the cost of equipment for making and applying thecap. I have found that bothof thesedifliculties can be largely eliminated by partially pre-forming the cap of metal of very thin cross-section in such manner that the pro-formed hoods will withstand part of the capping operation as has been neces sary in the past. This very greatly simplifies the operation of applying caps and greatly reduces the cost of the capping mechanism so that theme of metal hood caps is brought within the reach of small dairies which are financially unable to procure and operate the complicated forming and capping machines of the prior art.

v An important part of this problem and the generalobject of the invention is the provision. of a capping machine capable of handling the very thin section hoods and capable of applying these to a milk bottle without rupturing the hood during the handling and applying operations, and capable of seating the cap toproduce a finished package of workmanlike appearance and sufficient rigidity to withstand the abuse occasioned by the handling of the bottles during delivery,

An important object of the invention is the provisionof a capping device. of generally. improved structure which is more eflicient in operation,

more positive-inits action, which is capable of seatin caps of different design, and which is more compact and easy to operate.

A further object of the invention is the provi sion of hood applying mechanism and cap seating rnechanism together with means for mutually.

supporting the mechanisms and coordinating their operations.

In this way I have been able to .Iphragm;

7 is a longitudinalsection through the) bottle.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of hood applying and cap seating mechani msc'oordinated for cooperative operation in a filler and capper to accommodate for bottles and 3 caps of different sizes.

Another object of the invention isthe provision of anovel and compact structure for locating a bottle in a'cappi'ng position and seating a cap thereon. r v

"A still" further object of the invention is to provides. capp'er having improved cap seating means including means'for seating'the' cap disk into the mouth of a bottle, and means for seating the skirt of a pre-formed metal hood around the neck of Another object is the provision of a novel form of capping headand a novel cap seating diaphragm of resilient material adapted to compress the'skirt of a hood cap around the neck of the A further object is the provision of a capper capable of seating either hood caps orconventional diskcaps' so that either may be selectively run in the machine without change of parts;

A still further object of the invention is the- I have also aimed to providenovel means for controlling' the flow of air from and to thecap seating diaphragm in timed relation with descent of thecapping means.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description andthe accompanying drawings, in which--- i 1 r of a filling and cap- Figure 1 is a side elevation pingmachine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view of a cap seating mechanism embodying my invention with the capping head in the elevated position;

ing mechanismwith the parts in the disk seating positionp Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5.of Fig. 4 showing thediaphragm in contracted position:

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary face view of the diadiaphragm valve taken on the line l -'l of Fig. 5;

'1 Fig. [8. is ar section similarto'Fig. 7 with the parts in the position shown in Fig.2; .1

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-43. of Fig, 2

showing the bottle centering and aligning means; I v I Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side view of thebottle centering and aligning means, and

Figs; 11 and 12 are sections similar to Figs. 4

and 5 showing another form of diaphragm.

The present invention is directed to a cap seating device adapted for use primarily in conjiunction with the bottling of milk andsimilar dairy products, and while suitable for either hand or machine operation, is herein shown as embodied in. a well known type of filling and capping machine, as will presently be more fully described; in which the milk bottles are automatically filled,

transported through a hood applying position as indicated at (Fig. 9) in which ahojod member is loosely seated on the headofa bottle as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and the bottle is then moved to a cap seating position as indicatedfatfli in Fig. 9. In this instance the cap seating device is supported on a pair of vertically disposed rods !2 and I3 attached to the frame of the filler and capper hereinafter described, by means ofsleeves i4 and I5 interconnected. by, a transverse bar [1, the transverse bar and the-sleeves being normally fixed with respect to. the rod buttrnovable thereontoadjust themachines todifferent sizesof bottles. The primary means for assembling the portions of the cap and-completing the formation thereof directly on the head of the bottle are also carried on a reciprocating crosshead lB'havingsleeves l9 and 2| on the rods l2 and I3. The crosshead-18 has a bearing-member 22 (Figs. 3 and 4) through which an operating rod 23 passes; the rod having a collar 24 adapted to bear against the lower end of-a bearing member 22, the 'collar being pinned to the operating rod. Means, presently'to' bedescribed, is provided in the filler and capper'for-reciproeating the rod 23 in timed relation with other portions of the filler and capper and through a required operating stroke. A washer 25 seats against the upper side of the bearing member 22 and receives the end thrust of. a" spring 25surrounding therod, the washer beingloose thereon. This spring functionsas' a safety-device-permittingmovement of the operatin'g'rrod' independently of the crosshead'in case the bottle is not properly placed under the capper, or something 7 An inverted U-shaped yoke, indicated generally by the numeral 29, as best shown in Fig. 5, is attached to the crosshead IS in spaced relation thereto by means'of spaced blocks-31 (Fig.

.3) and bolts or screws 32 and 33 (Fig.5). At the upper end of the yoke is a bearing member 34 having a fiange35 seated againstthe underside of the yoke, the bearing member being held in position by a removable pin 36. Passing through this bearing member is a stem 31. carrying aplunger 38 at itslower end and acollar. 39. at its upper end. A spring 4|. is positionedon the stem 31, one end thereof bearing. against the bearing member 34 and the opposite end. bearing-against. a collar 43 pinned to the stem. the spring normally urging the stem downward. This movement is limited by contact of the, collar 39 against the bearing member :34. Thelower endof the yoke 21!! carries inwardly disposed ribs 44 and 45 seated-inways46' and 41 of a head.

support, indicated generally by the numeral 48 provided with a central guide opening 49 through which the stem 37 passes, a suitable sleeve bearing 5| being: provided therebetween; The guide opening also serves to provide at its'upper end an abutment for contact with the collar 43 for a purpose presently to be described. The head support has a cylinder designated generally by the numeral 52 shaped and positioned for the reception of a tube 53 carrying the conventional cap disks as indicated at 54, the tube 53 and cylinder 52 forming a cap disk magazine. The support 48 has alaterally disposed way 55 along which reciprocates a shuttle 56 which passes under the'stack of caps 54 to slice a disk from the bottom-0f the stack. intoa plunger chamber 51,

as shownin. 3, within which the plunger 38 reciprocates. The shuttle 56 is: reciprocated. by

spaced. links; 53. on oppositesides of the way 55,. the links being pivotally connected to levers,59,.

asbestshown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the walls beingv stepped. as they converge inwardly whereby to receive'the cap-disk 68 to retain the same in coaxial relationship and prevent its dropping through the opening until pressed therethrough Surrounding the byaction of the plunger 38. opening 6'! is a diaphragmseat indicated generally by the numeral 59 against which a ring portion LI of a rubber orsimilar flexible diaphragmlii is seated; The ring portion l-I- is held;

against the seat by anrupper clamping'or spacer ring. 13, seating within an annular shoulder 4 of the=flange 55. The diaphragm 12 has a: cup-likeintermediate wall Iii-terminating in an arcuate portion Hi at its lowermost-point and continuing in.- an annular rim T1, the upper clamping ring 13 having an inner wall extending inspacedrelation to the wall portion '35 and a bead l8 which projects downwardly into the interior-of the arcuate portion-lfi; The annular rim'H is clampedagainst the upper clamping ring I3 by a lower clamping, ring 19 having an annular flange. The two clamping rings are compressed against the diaphragm by means of a screw threadedcap 82 having an inwardly disposed flange engaging against the flange of the lower clamping ring. The lower clamping ring has a ledge 83 projecting. inwardly for partialsupport of the dia. phragm when. inflated and should come as close as conveniently possible to the outer surface of the bottle tolendmaximumsupport to the diaphragm in this area. The diaphragm, best shown in Fig. 6, has a plurality of spaced. ribs 84 extending radially on the arcuate portion'lfi and. on the inner or upper side-thereof, which ribsprovide additional support for the lower portion, of the wall '15 and greatly increase the lifeof the diaphragm. These ribs provide additional stock to prevent the rubber from blowing out. along the. wall of the bottle whereas the thinnerportions intermediate the ribs permit the diaphragmto contract in this area without producing ripples on the bottle contactingsurface- It will be seen that the skirt contracting mech- I28. Positioned in the chamber H8 is a;plunger-. I22 having a=p1unger rod I23 extending-upwardly beyond'the cap H9 and arranged when actuated;

downwardly to move the rod II'I t the position shown in Fig. '7, causing theend thereefgto-ahut the valve disk III and unseat the same. .The bodyis provided with a counterbore above the seat I81 which is internally threaded for the re.- ception of a plug I24 which has an internal bore I25 of the same diameter as the bore IM-and forming a continuation thereof. Positioned in the bore'I25 is a plunger I-ZBadapted to contact a valve disk IZ'I of stainless steel and having. a

lapped surface adapted to seat against the valve seat II'I'I, the plunger havinga rod I28 projecting upwardly beyond-the upper'end of the plugforv actuation of the plunger to press the disk I2! against the seat. The plug is slottedas indicated at I29, the slots communicating with slots I3I on the inner-side of the cap- I l9ato provide-an airpassagefrom the seat bore I09 past the disk I2!- and through the slots I29 and I3I to the exterior of'the valve. Communicatin with the bore I85- is a conduit I32 which extends downwardly andthrough'suitable fittings is attached to a boss I33 3 on the flange 86, which'fl'a'nge'has a channel I34 which communicates witha channel I35 irWthe upper clamping ring 13', the junction between the sealed by a small rubber gasket, as indicated at' I36, seated in grooves extendingannularlyoi thechannels, the groove in the upperclamping' ring, being smaller than that in the flange so that-upon removal the gasket is retained with the ring. The

upper clamping ring 13-also1ha a pin I3'I=engage-- able in an opening I38 in the flange member-to locate the clamping ring in--such manner asto bring the channels I 34. and" I35 into registration- Attached. to the rod 89 through a sleeve I39 and'screws- I4I isa-guide member: I42 (Figure 2).

the guide member having parallelly disposed bores as indicated at- I43; within which; are re ceived-actuating plungers I44-and I45; the plunge ers being carried upon stems I46 and MIhavingnuts I48sand I49 adapted toabutagainst the upper endof the guide member.- Springs I5I.

surround: the stems and normally urge the. plungers downwardly-into the positionshown, in

Figure 2', and serve to permit. of .oventravel. on

the part of the plungers I44. and-I45 in their:

downward movement, as will-presently be 1Q: scribed. The plu'ngers lMand I45,are spacedso that upon, relative movement between the head supp0rt48 and the yoke 29 the lower ends thereof come into contact with the plunger rods I23. and I28 of the valve, the relationship being such that the valve is thereby caused to be operatedat the clamping ringand' the flange= member being,

properipoint in the relative movement between these two elements in orderto cause the diaphragm to be contracted and in order to release the air from the diaphragm for return movement the plunger rod I28 than is the case with the plunger I44 and rod I23, thereby causing the plunger rod I28 and the plunger I28 to bade of the parts. In this'instance the plunger I45 normally extends to a point somewhat closertopressedslightly'before the plunger I22. Thusin operation, upon relative movement between the head support 48 and the yoke 29, the plunger I45 engages the plunger rod I28 thereby moving the disk I2I- against the seat III! and closing the channel I09. Promptly thereafter the plunger I44 engages the plunger rod I23 causing theplunger I22 to move the rod II'I downwardly, thereby unseating the disk I I I against the action of the spring I I5and the air pressure within the bore, and permitting air to pass. from the inlet I03 through the channel us, the bores ms and I05 and the conduit I32 to the space behind the diaphragm, causing the diaphragm to move to the position shown in Fig. 5. Upon relative return movement of the head support ls and yoke 29 the plungers I44 and I45 move upwardly, the plunger I44 first permitting the plunger I22 to move upwardly and the disk III to seat under the action of the spring, thereby cutting off pressure to the diaphragm. Shortly thereafter the plunger I45 permits return movement of the stem I28 and opening movement of the disk I2I whereby the p'ressureof the airwithin the bore I is' permitted to evacuatethrough the bore I89 and the slots I29 and I3 I, thus relieving the pressure within the diaphragm and permitting the same to return to'the position shown in Fig. 3. It will be seen that the arrangement is such that there is substantially no unnecessary loss of air since the valve disk III is opened subsequent to the closing of the disk I21 and is closed prior to the opening thereof.

As the parts return to the position shown in Fig. 2, the counterbalancing mechanism, including the spring 88, tends to cause the head support 48 to follow upward and thus prevent operation of the shuttle 58' from feeding the next succeeding disk into the plunger chamber 51. In order to insure this operation, a rod I52 is provided, the lower end of which bears against the head support 48 as shown in Fig. 3 when the crosshead occupies its upperposition, the rod being carried in a sleeve I53 fixedly attached to a bracket I54 on the upper end of an upright I55 attached to the sleeve I5 as shown in Fig. 9. The rod is of reduced diameter within the sleeve I53 to provide a shoulder as shown at I56 (Fig. 3). A spring I51 within the sleeve acts against the shoulder and thence against the inturned upper end I58 of the sleeve to normally urge the rod downward. The downward movement of the rod is limited by a pin I59 passing through the upper end of the rod. Because of the fixed position of the bracket I54 the rod I52 is brought into contact with the head support when the crosshead approaches its upper position, thereby urging the head support downward until the pins 63 reach the upper end of the slots 82 representing the limit of the inward feed movement of the shuttle 55.

Means are provided for centering and aligning successive bottles under the cap seating mechanism and are carried on the horizontal bar IT. This includes a vertically disposed arm IBI (Fig. 2) attached to the end of the bar I'I having a horizontally disposed portion I82 arranged to support spaced bearing spindles I53 1 and I64 (Figs. 9 and 10). 'Positioned on the in.- ner ends of the spindles I63 and IE4 are clamping arms I85 and I68 having depending portions I61 and I68 provided with hands I69 and Ill adapted to grip-the neck of a bottle somewhat below the bead thereof, as best shown in Fig. 10. The

arms I55 and I86 are geared together by gear segments 1.12 .to cause'the arms to move in unison toegrip the bottle and to bring the same toa uniformlocation and alignment. The ;arms are operated upon. by a spring I'I3 which seats in sockets. I145 andI I5 at the upper, ends thereof toyurge the same outwardly andthus rotate the arms into contact with the bottle as shown in Fig. :10. Thearm I65 carries an upwardly-disposed lever I16 having a roller H1. at the. remote endithereof, positioned for engagement by a slide I'l8ncarried on a dependinglever I19 attached to the crosshead I8 by means of bolts I8I in such vmanner that elevation of the crosshead brings: the

team face I18 againsttherollerIfI'I, :therebyirotatins the arms by. thepins I 63 and I 64 from the position shown in FigplO to thep'osition shown in Fig. 2 so as toreleasethebottle! It will beseen that the bottle isgripped under spring pressure and consequently the bottles may vary toa substantial extent in the diameter of the neck without interfering'with the operation of the bottle locating' means. The arm "I6I- is attach'edto the connecting element Il'througha slotted openin I82 in thear m anda c'ap screw I83-passing therethrough and into the element I'I, whic h act to* securethe parts in position 'irrany desired adjusted "elevational position, the element I1 and the arm bein mutually shaped to prevent-tilting movement of the-arm I6I' 'wher'i the cap screw is tightened.

- fferring now toFigurdl; the invention is shownlas embodied in afilling-and capping ma- 'chine of the rotary type in which the empty bottles are fed intoa filling machine, the bottles which is mounted a rotary table I88 enclosed by ap eripher'al guard rail I89 whichserves to retain the bottles on'the tablef The table rotates from right to left facing Figure l and car,- ries empty bottles exemplified by a bottle I'BI against a stanwheel designated-generally by the numeral I92 (Fig. 9). The star wheel I82is carried on a vertical shaft (not shown) and'overhangs the table I 88 having on its peripherya plurality of notches v I 93 into which the bottles IBI are carried by rotation of the table. The

star wheel rotates intermittently in a clockwise direction facing Fig. 9 and thus carries the empty bottles I9I in a step fashion to the head of bottle stools designated generally by the numeral I95 carried on a moving platform I96 ofthe filler, the stools being carried on arms I9] which are rotated by mechanism within a housing I98 onthe frame I86 to move the stools between a 1 position fiushwith the platform I96 and an elevated position as showninFigure 1. .The rotation of the star wheel and the platformare so coordinated that'a bottle is movedonto successive stools as 'these stools pass the" star l'wheel, movement of the bottles being stopped by; a ring 199 having fingers'28l againstwhich the Ybo'ttle abuts in its movement. "The;ring- I99 is arranged for adjustment in its position so as to accommodate the machinefor different sizes of bottles. -The platform I96moves continuously in a directionfromright to left facing Fig urei,

bringing successive bottles around to a discharge station as-indicated in dotted lines-at 5: (Fig 9). During this rotation31the: stools I95 pare, raised,

causing the mouth of the bqttles to engage with filler valves .202 which act to fill the bottle with milk from a tank 283. The stools I95 aredropped to a position flush with the platform I96 as they approach thedischarge station 5. As the stools move past the discharge station, they pass under the star wheel I92 moving the bottle thereon into the discharge station 5 andinto on of the recesses I93 of the star wheel; whereby upon rotation of the star wheel to bring an empty bottle onto the stools, a filled bottle is removed from the bottle discharge station to a bottle capping station as indicated at 6 (Fig; 9 ,-the bottle remaining stationary at this station until-the next movement of the star wheel, during-which pel'iOd the cap .is seatedon the bottle by reciprocation of the crosshead I8 asheretoforedes'cribed. The next succeeding movement of the star-wheel brings the'capped bottle back onto the table I88, whereby rotation of the table withdraws the bottle from the recess I93 of the star wheel, thus completing the filling and capping operation.

-The capping mechanism is so positioned as to conduct :the various I operations incident to the cappmg, subsequent to the time the bottle leaves the discharge station Fr-and: prior to the time it isdeliveredl onto the table I88. This mechanismiis in this instance carried on thepair of spaced upright rods I2 and I3; heretofore described,attached to the frame I86 through sleeves 2041 and, 20.5; and extending upwardly along the edgeof a capping plate 2816 -(F5ig. 9) which serves to vsupportjthe bottles between the platform I96 and thetable I88. A guide. bar 2illextends along the iront'of :the plate 286- to retain the bottles in the star'wheeliand isvadjustable bymeans of 'a crank 208 for different sizes of bottles. An arm 289,;(Fig; 1). is likewise adjusted by the crank 208 to, adjust theuposition'of'the guard rail I89 (Fig. 11). J 1Y2: I 1 J Means are provided for applying the hood I86 to the'head of:a bottle as it moves forward from the: discharge position 5' to .the capping position 6, this mechanism including I a hood magazine 2 I I adjustablycarrieduon .a' rod 2I2 attached to a hood chute' 'indicated generally by the .numeral 2I3 which is 'in turni attached; to a bracket 2M SGQIIIGdptO; the; upright I55, as described and claimed in my oopending application Serial No. 402,517, filedJulydB, 1941, entitled Bottle cap applying device!" The magazine ZILcarries a stack of hoods-las indicated at 2H5 retained in the magazine by fingers 2P6. The chute 2I3 has spaceduside members -2I'I adapted to receive the hoods are; withdrawn oneat a time from the magazinebymeans of a suction cup 2I9 carried on-the end of a piston 22Ilactuated by a lever 222 which isin turn rotated by an arm 228 driven froma -shaft ZZ I carried in a bracket 22-5 likewise gattached to the upright I55. The shaft 224 ;is driven from awhe e1226 disposed in the path: ofkaybottlet carried on the stools lfliin such-position-as to be engaged by the neck of the bottles while clamped in the filler between the 'filleruvalve 202, and the stool I95, the forward movement of the! table. I96 moving; the

wheel i226 outwardly, thusrotating an arm 22'! clutched to the shaft 224-by ''means of a friotion clutch 228 spring pressed into positionby a spring 229. The. wheel 226 and ar-m HT-are urged into the path of the bottle by a tension spring -23| and the bottle rotates the -wheeland arm against the'tensionof'this spring, the clutch 2 2Bprovidingovertravel to=accommodate for differentsizes :01" bottles, as described in my said copending'application. Connected to the p un er 22! through a valve member 232 is a vacuum hose 233 connectedto a-dependingpipe -ZM in turn attached to'vacuum pump mechanism of conventional design carried .in a housing 235 beneath the frame 186, the =va1ve 232 acting to apply reduced pressure to the suction cup 2H) when the same is advanced toward the magazine and to permit the-increase of pressure therein to atmospheric as the suction cup -returns to the position shown in Figure 1 to therebydeposit the-hoods into thechute. I

The capping head .is reciproeated through its cap seating stroke, as heretoforedescribedby-the operating rod 23, whichrod-is threaded at its lower end asshown-at 2-36and is receivedin the threaded bore of an end piece 231. The lower end of theend piece is pivotally connected .toa crank arm 238 "fixed to-a shaft 239 carried-ina gear casing 24!, which also carries a-pulley 242 driven 'froma motor-243, the gearing within the casing being suchasto drive the pulley.242 in a counterclockwise direction so as to actuate .the crank arm -238 through acapping stroke. The pulley 242 carries handlesl244 formanual .movement of the capping head during adjustment of the device. The gearing in the casing24l also serves to drivethe platform I96 and the starwheel I92, theseelements-being driven in timedrelation to effect reciprocation. of "the crosshead Whil the star wheel and the bottle occupy a stationary position on theplate 266; The arm and shaft-are returned by a spring 245 acting between theframe and a crank arm 246. Itwill be seen thatthrough this mechanism the operatingrodisgivenia vertical reciprocating motion,.the.amplitudebeing; such as is required'by thercapping operation. It will be seen thatthe elevation of "the cross-head must bevaried with the size of the bottles towhichthe cap is beingseated, and. consequently the effective length of the rod 23-must be varied For this purpose the crank 30 is provided on the upper end of the rod 23 as heretofore described-so-that the threaded lower end236' may beiscrewedinto or out of the endpiece 208 toadjust theeifective length of the rod. To facilitate this adjustment the operating rod carries-aplurality of markings cooperating with the end of a rod 241 to' indicate the position of the'cap seating mechanism, that is, to indicate'the size of bottle for which the-capping'mech-anism is set.

It will be seen that the elevation of the hood applying mechanism including the magazine and chute must also be adjustedfor different heights of bottles, and for this purpose Ihave arranged'to support the bottle wheel: 22B and associatedmechanism, thehoodmagazine 2-1 I, the-hood selector mechanism, the hood chute andthe bottle centering mechanism on the frame comprising -the cross-bar ll-and upright I55. Thereforaby-adiusting the position of this fr-ame, -each of these elements maybe simultaneously adjusted to the positio'nrequired for different-standardsizedbottles. Inorderto bring about this adjust'ment l provide a yoke-designated generally :by the .nu-

2 depending :fiangesiM 9 between which .is supported a transverse shaft 25| carryinga crank 252 and ia'bevel. gear 253. The gear 253 meshes witha quarter turngear'254 carried on ascrew'255 having bearing support in the :yoke and retained in position by a collar 256, the screw projecting-upwardly and having threaded engagement in .a threaded boss 25'! attached to the cross-bar ill whereby uponrotation of the crank 252, .thebar l1 and the associated frame'mechanism-israised and lowered. The rod ;24'l.is attached to theetop of'the yoke 248 and bearssuitable indiciaLindicating the position of the" bar 11 for the diflerent sizesofbottlest Itawill bezseen that by this means all the above-mentioned mechanisms are simultaneously adjusted to uniform positions in .response to rotation of the cranks 252-and and the relative positions of the hood applying means and the cap seating means are indicated, and

.consequently the operator is assured of proper .co-

ordination between these various elements. I In Figs. 11 and 12 I .have shown a modifie form'of the diaphragmportion of the device, the

remainder beingidentical with that heretofore described. In this form of the invention adepending flange 26I. is provided attached to the head support and analogous to the depending flange 66 of the form heretofore described, the

flange 26l being externally threaded as shownat in an annular flange '2'.

262. Within the supporting member is acentral opening 263 communicating with the plunger chamber and in efiectforming a part thereof, the walls of said opening converging slightly to positively prevent the disk68 from dropping through the opening until pressed through by action of the plunger 38. Surrounding theopening 263 is a diaphragm seat indicated generally by' the numeral zfi lragainst which a ring or flange portion 265 of a rubber or similar flexible diaphragm 266 is seated. The flange portion .265v is held against the seat 264 by an upper clamping and spacer ring 261, the outer periphery of which seats snugly against the inner wall of the flange26l. The diaphragm has a cup-like.intermediate wall 268 having a reverse bend as shown at 269 terminating The flange 21.] is clamped against the spacing ring 26'lby a clamping ring 212 which has an upwardly disposed conical flange or rib 213 received within the portion of reverse bend, whereby to clamp the lower edge of the diaphragm andto'firmlyseat'it in position. The spacer ring and the clamping ring are compressed against the flanges of the diaphragm by means of a screw threaded cap'2'l4 having an inwardly disposed rim 215 engaging'against the clamping ring. The clamping ring has a shoulder 216 projecting inwardly for partial support of the diaphragm when inflated and should come as close as conveniently possible to theouter surface of thelbottle to lend maximum support to the diaphragm in this area. The purpose of the reverse bend and the rib213 istocause the wall 263 tobe stretched transversely of its length at the same time that it is being contracted inwardly, this stretching operation in one direction acting'to shrink the wall portion in "the circumferential direction, thus preventing formation of-ripplesor wrinkles in the wall 268 as it movestowardthe surface of the-bottle. Air is 'suppliedto the space behind the diaphragm'by'way' of a pipe 2-" connected to the air valve and'corresponding to the pipe 132. shown in Fig. 5. 'As shown in Figu 12,

when air is admitted behind the diaphragm; the wall 2684s moved outwardly-into contact with the outer surface of the battle, the wall 'be'ing meral 2&3 pinned .tosthe uprights and I3 and 75 stretched in-portionsandshrunk in other portions as indicated in this figure for the purpose of compressing the skirt againstthe' outer surface ofthe bottle. During this operation the diaphragm tends to seat against the shoulder2'I6 asshown in Fig. 12, the shoulder acting to support the diaphragm in this area; I It will'be seenthat theskirtcontracting mechanism is so constructed thatby unscrewing the cap 214, the diaphragm and the two rings can be quickly withdrawn from the-flange for quick replacement of the diaphragm in case it should be cut by broken bottles or for any other reason ,may need replacement. Likewise it may be easily removed for cleaning operations without dismantling'the entire capseating mechanism.

I desire to direct particular attention to the face that the capping device can be usedin its entirety and with out-anystructural change for applying either skirted hood-caps or the conventional disk or plug-type caps simply by inter- K rupting the supplyof airto the diaphragm and by interrupting the source ofreduced pressure to thesuction cup ZIB, either of which maybe accomplished in the well known-manner by the actuation of a valve or: the 'deenergization of an air compressor and vacuum pump. This isof particular importance since in ordinary practice it is necessary for a dairy to change from hood caps to plug-type caps from four to ten times perday, the capping run 'of each commodity conveniently being separated into bottles to which hood caps are applied and other bottles" to which only plug-type? caps are applied. This represents a saving in a duplication oiequipment, time required in making the change,space' required for the utilization of duplicate'equipment, and the cost of maintaining and cleaning theextra equipment, I 1 M I Operation 1 Ihe emptyjsterile bottles are placed 3 on the 'table' l B8 and through rotation thereof come into contact with the'fstar wheefwhich transfers the the maga"zine 2l I dropped into thechute and transferred to a point to be engaged by't he ider'itical bottle as it moves into capping position. When thebottle carrying ithe hoodcomes to rest beneath the cap seatingfmechanism as shown in Fig. '2 ',the rod 23 is moved downward, bringing jthecrosshead I8, down. the' crossheadfinoves down thecam face IIB releases the roller I'I'I fallowingthe arms I as and I66 to rotate under the iactionlof .the spring I13 to grasp the neck of the bottle, centering the. same, under the plunger 38 and bringingit into proper capping position with respect to,the plunger and the diaphragm. With continued movement the skirtcontracting means, including the diaphragm 12, comes into contact with thehoocl at the ri m of ,thebottle. ,Asthe i crosshead continues to move I downward,- the skirt contracting. means slides'. upwardly on. the rod ,3'I,with;the diaphragmlightly contacting the rim of the. hood, the major portion-of the weight lthereofi being takenaby the counterbalancing .spring. 88. ,This relative upward movement of the ,skirt contracting means .cventually :causes, the plu r 1 he. iected intothehmouth of the repeatedsectional shape of bottle, forcing'the disk168 out of the chamber 51 and causing the same to be seated on top of .themouth-s-panningiportion 93 of the hood and.

against the cap seat. At this point the collar 43 comes into engagement, and continued downward movementof the crosshead causes compression of the spring 4| in an overtravel movement. During this overtravel movement the plungers.;l 44 and I45 actuate the air, valve, admitting air ,to

thespace behind the diaphragm to cause the same to move inwardly to compress the skirt portion of the hood around the bead of the bottle, the skirt folding on the pre-formed folded lines therein. The skirt of the hood is so pleated as to have slightly more stockbetween the folds than will be required to fit over thelargest bead which will be encountered-in the type of bottle forwhich it is made, and this excess material will b gathered between the folded lines in the form of small ribs which serve to stiffen the metal around the lower edge of theskirt.

. Upon reaching the end of this overtravel movement, the crosshead I8 immediately returns to its upper position, during which movement the spring expands, allowing relative movement between the crosshead and the plunger 38 and skirt contracting means, as a resultof which -movement the. plungers I44 and I45 release the stems I23 and I28 as indicated in Fig. e8, thus exhausting the air from behind the diaphragm and permitting. it to return to the position shown in Fig. 4. As the crosshead continues its upward movement, the plunger is withdrawn from the mouth of the bottle and thereafter the skirt contracting means is pulled upward by action of the pin 63 engaging the end of the slot 62 in.the

disk feeding machanism to lift the skirtcontracting means away fromthe bottle and to the elevated position.- During this lifting operation the shuttle 5s is-moved to feed a disk into the tion and a new bottle having a hood thereon is substituted and the cap, seating operation is Where I use the term reverse bend or reverse curve" I mean a structure in which the material of the diaphragm extends outwardly and upwardly and then reverses upon itself and extends outwardly and downwardly. as .shown in Figs.'1l and 12, the term referring to the crossthe lower portion of the diaphragm.

While Iv have thus described andeillustrated aspecific embodiment of the invention, this has been by wayof illustration and not limitation, and. I do not wish to be limitedexcept as required by the scope of the appended claims, in which Iclaimyf 1. The combination in a capper for seating a cap on a milkhottle having a skirted hood loosely carried over the mouth of the bottle in alignment therewith of skirt contracting means, a plunger for forcing a disk'positioned therebeneath into the mouth of the bottle, supporting means for carrying said skirt contracting means and said plunger, means for imparting relative approach movement between said bottle and said support to bring said skirt contracting means into operative relation with said bottle, a lost motion connection between said skirt contracting means i and said plunger for forcing th'diskinto the bot.-

tle upon further approach movement, a second :lost :motion connection between said zplungeriand said supporting -means for further approach movement between said :bottle and said support, vandmeans responsive to the last mentioned approach movementfor actuating said skirt contracting means to contractthe skirt of the'hood about the head of the bottle.

2. The combination -in a capper'for seating a canon a milk bottlehaving a skirted'hood'loosely carried over the mouth of the bottle inalignment therewith of skirt contracting means, a plunger for forcing a disk into .themouth of the bottle over said hood, a' disk-magazine, means for feeding a disk from said magazine into-cappingposition under said plunger, supporting means for carrying said skirt contracting means, and said plunger, means for imparting relative approach movement between said bottle and said support to bring the skirt contracting means into operative relation with the bottle, a lost motion connection between said skirt contracting-means and said plunger for forcing the disk into the bottle uponfurther approach movement, a second lost motion'connection between said plunger and said supporting means for further approach movement between said bottle and said support, means responsive to the last mentioned approach movement for actuating said-skirt contracting means to contract the skirt of the hood about the head of the bottle, and means'for actuating said disk feeding means in response to return movement between said support and said bottle.

3. The combination recited in claim l'wherein means is provided for counterbalancing the weight of said skirt contracting means to remove most of the weight of said skirt contracting means fromthe bottle While the-disk is being inserted into the bottle. V

' 4. The combination in a bottle capper for applying skirted-hood caps to milk bottles of supporting means, fluid operatedskirtcontracting means on said supporting means'foi' contracting the'skirt of a hood positioned on the head of a bottle positionedtherebeneath, a plunger-in said supporting means for seating a disk in the mouth of said bottleon top of said hood, means for 1mparting relative approach movement first between the bottle and said contracting means? and plunger to bring the contracting means against the rim of the bottle with'thehood therebetween and thereafter impart approach movement between'said plunger and said bottle to seat the disk, overtravel means between said ,support means'and said contracting means and plunger, and means for actuating said skirt contracting means in response to said overtravel movement'to contract the skirt around the head of thebottle.

'5. The combination recitedin claim 4 wherein the means for actuatingsaid skirt contracting means comprisesvalve means carriedon the'skirt contracting means on said support means, and means positioned to operate said valve means in response to said overtravel movement.

'6. The combination in a capper for seating skirted hood caps on milk bottles, of skirt contracting means comprising a supporting member spaced relationto-the neck of the bottle for the reception; of theskirt of a cap therebetween,: and an ';outwardly disposed lower peripheral fasteningzportion at .the :lower edgeof said wall portion, aspacendisposed between said upper and lower fastening portions to confine gsaid'fastening portions and :forming with'said diaphragm a fiuid chamber extending :around .said depending wall portionfor thereceptionof fluid to displace said wall vportion against the neck of the bottle to press the-v skirt 'thereagainst, a clamping ring disposed below said lower peripheral fastening portion,-said diaphragm and said clamping ring being shaped to stretch the diaphragm longitudinally of .the bottle while the same'isbeing con,- tracted circumferentiallythereof, and releasable means acting between supporting member and said clampingring for compressingsaid spacing ring and said fastening portions between said member and said clamping ring to seal said chamben-said releasable means being the sole means for securing said'diaphragm,'said spacer, and said clamping ring in assembled relation on said'supporting, member, whereby assembly and disassemblyiof the parts for repairrand replacement of said diaphragm is efiected by release of said releasable means.

7. Thecombination in.,a capper for seating skirted hood caps on bottles of skirt contracting means comprising a supporting member movable toward and away from a bottle disposed therebeneath having the 7 central opening for the passage :of a capping plunger, a rubber diaphragmcomprising a rim portion around saidopjeningshaped to seat against the rim of-the bottlesan upper .fiange outwardly disposed from said rim :portion adapted to seat against said member to support the diaphragm thereon, a depending ,wallcsloping outwardly and downwardlyfrom said rim portion in spaced relation to the neck of the bottle for the reception of the skirt of a cap therebetween, said wall terminating. inanoutwardly and upwardly disposed annular wall, and an annular outwardly disposed lower flange on said upwardlydisposed wall, a spacerring disposed between said flanges, means for confiningsaid 'fianges'against the-spacer ring and'said supporting member toprovide a substantially air tight chamberaround said diaphragm, and means for applying fluid pressure to the outer side of said diaphragm to contract said depending wall against the bottleand compress the skirt thereagainst throughout the width of the skirt.

8.'The'combination in .a capper -for seating skirtedhood caps on bottles of skirt contracting the bottleterminating in an outwardly disposed reverse curve, a ring between saidfi'ange and said-diaphragm 'for sealing said against said top, a second ring for sealing-'the lower edge'of "said diaphragm againstsaid first'mentionedring, :said second-ring'havin'g a rib interfitti'ngwithth'e reverse curve of said diaphragm,-a cap detachably connected to said flange-for compressing said rim, said edge and said rings against said top, and means for'admitting and releasing fluid-pressure :betweenssaid first mentioned *ring and said diaphragm to periodically contract "the latter against .the 'bottle zto compresssaid skirt thereagainst, said rib acting on said diaphragm to stretch the same longitudinally of the bottle under action of said fluid pressure while the diaphragm is being contracted circumferentially thereby.

9. The combination recited in claim 11 wherein said spacer ring has a channel communicating with said chamber and said member has an opening registering therewith and in which annular recesses are provided around said channel and said opening at the junction thereof, and a gasket seated in said recesses for sealing the junction between said channel and said opening, one of said recesses being arranged to retain said gasket when the member and the ring are separated.

10. The combination in a capper for seating skirted hood caps on milk bottles of skirt contracting means comprising a molded rubber diaphragm having, in unstressed condition, a rim portion shaped to seat against the rim of a bottle, 2. depending Wall sloping outwardly from said rim portion away from the neck of the bottle terminating in an outwardly disposed reverse curve portion, means for supporting said diaphragm around the head of a bottle having a skirted hood cap, and means for applying fluid pressure to the outer side of said diaphragm to contract the same against the bottle to compress said skirt thereagainst, said supporting means having shape characteristics upon which said reverse curve portion operates to stretch said diaphragm longitudinally of the bottle while the diaphragm is being contracted circumferentially thereof.

11. The combination recited in claim wherein a rigidly positioned rib is seated in the outer loop of said reverse curve to stretch said wall downward under said fluid pressure while the diaphragm is being contracted thereunder, and a supporting ledge projects inward in downwardly spaced relationship to the inner loop of said reverse curve to support said wall when stretched downward under said fluid pressure.

12. A diaphragm for use in bottle capping machines for applying hood caps comprising a onepiece body of elastic material having, in normal unstressed condition, a tubular wall for the reception of the head of a bottle, said wall converging inwardly at one end to seat against the rim of a bottle, an outwardly disposed annular attachment flange adjacent the other end thereof, and means comprising shape characteristics of the material disposed between said attachment flange and said other end acting on said wall adjacent said other end to cause said Wall to stretch longitudinally of the bottle to absorb excess wall material caused by contraction of said wall circumferentially around the neck of the bottle in response to the application of fluid pressure to the outer side of said wall.

13. The combination recited in claim 12 wherein said means comprises a plurality of ribs spaced annularly of said wall in the junction between said flange and said other end of said wall on the side thereof opposite the bottle and which further acts to reenforce the diaphragm.

14. A diaphragm for use in bottle capping machines comprising a one-piece molded body of rubber having a coplanar flange for attachment to capping machines provided with a central opening, a conical wall depending from said opening provided intermediate its edges with an outwardly disposed bend terminating in an outwardly disposed attachment flange, each of said flanges having raised ribs on opposite sides thereof intermediate the edges of the flanges shaped for reception in complemental grooves of supporting means to prevent dislocation of the flanges through stretching thereof.

15. The combination in a capper for seating skirted hood caps on bottles of skirt contracting means comprising a supporting member movable toward and away from a bottle disposed therebeneath having a central opening for the passage of a capping plunger, a rubber diaphragm comprising a rim portion around said opening shaped to seat against the rim of the bottle, an upper flange outwardly disposed from said rim portion adapted to seat against said member to support the diaphragm thereon, a depending wall sloping outwardly and downwardly from said rim portion in spaced relation to the neck of the bottle for the reception of the skirt of a cap therebetween, said wall terminating in an outwardly and upwardly disposed annular wall, and an annular outwardly disposed lower flange on said upwardly disposed wall, spacing means disposed between said flanges for confining the upper flange against said support member and for closing the space between said flanges to provide a substantially air tight chamber around said diaphragm, and a ledge projecting inwardly toward the bottle below said lower flange, said diaphragm having a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs on the side thereof away from the bottle and at the junction between said wall and said lower flange to span the space between the neck of the bottle and said ledge when the diaphragm is contracted against the bottle to prevent rupture of said diaphragm when capping undersized bottles.

16. The combination in a capper for seating a cap of the type having a skirted hood and a disk seated thereon on a milk bottle, of skirt contracting means having a central opening, a plunger movable through said central opening for forcing a disk and a central portion of said hood into the mouth of the bottle, supporting means for carrying said skirt contracting means and said plunger, means for imparting relative approach movement between said bottle and said support to bring said skirt contracting means into operative position against the head of the bottle with said hood disposed therebetween, said plungerhaving lost motion with respect to said skirt contracting means for further approach movement of the plunger to force said cap and a central portion of the head into the mouth of the bottle, said skirt contracting means comprising a rubber diaphragm, including a vertically disposed tubular wall for the reception of the head of the bottle therein, with said hood disposed thereon, said wall curving inwardly adjacent its upper edge to seat against the rim of the bottle, a layer of fabric seated in the surface of said wall in said inwardly curved area to facilitate sliding movement of the hood with respect to the bottle and said wall upon said further approach movement of the plunger, and means for applying fluid pressure to the exterior of said diaphragm to contract said wall against the neck of the bottle and compress the skirt thereagainst.

RUDOLPH SONNENBERG.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,5Li9,52u. May 25, 19th.

RUDOLPH SONNENBERG.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 8, first column, lines, 61 and 62, claim 5, strike out the comma and words and means" and insert the same before "on", line 61, same claim; page 9, first column, line 6, claim 9, for the claim reference numeral "ll" read -6; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of July, A. D. 191m.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

